German corporate insolvencies dip in May but yearly filings climb

Destatis reported that 1,995 corporate insolvency applications were filed in May 2026, 2 % fewer than in May 2025 and the first monthly decline since February 2026.

Over the January-May period the total rose to 10,546 filings, about 5 % above the same span in 2025, indicating that the overall wave remains upward.

Handelsblatt calculated the highest insolvency rate in transport and logistics at 57.2 cases per 10,000 firms. Hospitality followed with 49.2 cases per 10,000 firms, a pressure the outlet linked to rising energy costs and weak consumer demand. Construction reported 44 cases per 10,000 firms.

Consumer insolvencies fell by roughly 10 % to 5,926 in May 2026, according to Handelsblatt. Creditor claims for the January-May window amounted to €15.4 billion, down from the previous year's level.

DIHK chief executive Helena Melnikov warned that the current level must alarm the business community. VID president Christoph Niering argued the trend reflects a structural economic shift rather than a short-term crisis. Creditreform's head of economic research Patrik-Ludwig Hantzsch cautioned that a rapid easing of the insolvency wave is unlikely.

Analysts expect the May dip to be temporary. If sector-specific pressures persist, especially in transport, hospitality and construction, the overall insolvency wave may continue to climb through the remainder of 2026.